Welcome to SLICED SPREAD, the place on Inside Pulse Sports for weekly NFL picks against the spread, head to head survivor picks, and score prognostications.

I have a bit of a time crunch this week, so let me give you all my picks for Week 5 and I’ll be back next week with the full breakdown. I did go 9-6 for the Week 4 action, so here’s to another winning week!

SLICED SPREAD: NFL WEEK 5 PICKS

Home teams are shown in CAPSPoint spreads shown in ().

THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

ST. LOUIS (+0.5) over Arizona — Call it a hunch but I like the upstart Rams to upset the undefeated Cardinals in this spot. Why not? Rams win 20-16

SUNDAY:

NY GIANTS (-9.5) over Cleveland — The Giants must be stewing after the way they let the game go against division rival Philly on Sunday night. What better way for New York to feel better than to take out their anger on an inferior Browns team at home? Giants win 27-13

WASHINGTON (+2.5) over Atlanta — Matt Ryan really pulled the rabbit out of the hat with another unbelievable comeback last week against the Panthers. This week, I sense a trap game for the Falcons on the road against RG3 and Co. Redskins win 31-28

Philadelphia (+3.5) over PITTSBURGH — The Steelers will be well-rested coming off their bye week, but I feel like the Eagles have enough momentum to keep it close. Steelers win 23-20

*UNTOUCHABLE SPREAD OF THE WEEK: Green Bay (-6.5) over INDIANAPOLIS — I don’t like this game because the Packers have played some real close games and the Colts are well-rested. That said, Clay Matthews will be a huge test for Andrew Luck. Welcome to the league kid. Packers win 24-17

*LOCK IT UP/H2H SURVIVOR PICK: MINNESOTA (-5.5) over Tennessee — Props to the Vikings for turning their division on its head for the first quarter of the season. As for the Titans, well, they just lost their starting QB and I feel like they will suffer here as a result. Vikings win 26-10

Baltimore (-4.5) over KANSAS CITY — The Ravens SHOULD dominate, but you never know at Arrowhead. Ravens win 27-19

CINCINNATI (-4.5) over Miami — I think the Bengals will win, but the Dolphins are pesky enough to leave me leery of locking this one up. Cincy might pull away late, so… Bengals win 35-21

Seattle (+3.5) over CAROLINA — I like Seattle to keep every game they play close, and the Panthers might still be reeling from their heartbreaking loss last week. I like the points more than any team, but why not call it an upset? Seahawks win 23-21

*LOCK IT UP: Chicago (-5.5) over JACKSONVILLE — The Bears were just dominant on Monday night, and they really are the superior team here as well. I’m actually surprised the spread is this low. Bears win 29-9

SAN FRANCISCO (-9.5) over Buffalo — The Bills can certainly score, but man can they get burned on defense too. This one’s not going to be too close towards the end of the game, though, because the Niners’ defense is just clicking on all cylinders now that they rehabbed against the paltry Jets last week. Niners win 34-21

Denver (+6.5) over NEW ENGLAND — Ah, Peyton Manning vs. Tom Brady. I can’t wait to see this one and I think it will be one of those games that can define Manning’s comeback one way or the other. I feel an upset is very possible here and the Broncos pull out all the stops to take it in the end. Broncos win 38-34

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL:

San Diego (+3.5) over NEW ORLEANS — I loved the Chargers last week, and I like them this week as well. I also wonder how much longer the Saints will care enough to play hard when they have no coaching staff and keep coming up short. Chargers win 28-26